A Civil Court judgement which had found that the courts were precluded from ruling on titles of nobility, honours or decorations was today confirmed by the Court of Appeal.

A case had been filed by Alfred Baldacchino as Grand Master of the Order known as "Ordo Byzantinus Sancti Sepulchri" against Carmel Sandro Calleja and David Formosa.

Mr Baldacchino had requested the court to prohibit Mr Calleja and Mr Formosa from portraying themselves as deputy Grand Master and as Grand Chancellor of this Order.

But the First Hall of the Civil Court had ruled against Mr Baldacchino as the law specifically prohibited the courts from recognising titles of nobility or foreign orders unless such orders were recognised by the law itself.

The Court of Appeal, composed of Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia and Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, confirmed the first court's judgment. 

On appeal the court ruled that if it were to investigate who was entitled to be Grand Master, deputy Grand Master and Grand Chancellor of this order it would be recognising the Order itself. 

This was prohibited at law.

 

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